St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-16
TR EES FOR DAKOTA.
How the Department of Agriculture
Cam Assist tfae People.


Special to the Globe
WASHINGTON, April 15.-The depart
ment of agriculture is prepared to assist the
people in the prairie countries with trees.
shrubs, and arboriferous vegetation. The
tree planting in Dakota, on Arbor Day.
might be rendered more practical and prac.
We're called Upon 1or asSs1dYcea d. hesfe IS
yet time to send to Washington. In, the
judgment of those who live and have lived
in Dakota, there is nothing of more i'm
portauce than that the desert should be as
sisted to blossom as the rose, by the active
interest TO be developed and displayed in
in this matter of tree planting. The prairie
fires of the historic and pre- historic past
have denuded Dakota OF her trees. Nature
was not permitted TO supply the deficiency,
even with little shoots, until the vahdal fires
would sweep again like careering demons
over her fair bosom and make it again
a barren waste. Everywhere save along
the streams the fire tiend has annually run
his scalping knife and RACED the Shrubberv
to the soil. The ashes deposited have
coated the earth with alkaline solidity which
it will take years to wash away. The rain
falls are not refreshing either to man, beast
or the parched earth, for the reason that
they are bitter Ives. Even the
FILTERED SPRING WATER.
cleansed by its meanderings through the
crevices i'll the soil, is alkaline and I'M
wholesome. Years and years will elapse
before the reproducing power Of the ash
beds have gone. The sooner trees are
planted, not IN drbiets. but in great groves,
all over the face of the imperial earth, the
sooner will fertility replace steriIity and the
fhn L.,
Esdraelon. 1t is true that there
| in Dakota, but they are nearly
all in the southland. Many shade trees are
to be seen in the Older towns; but it is in
the country that the timber laws. statute
| laws and laws of common sense are most
| disregarded and there they should be the
| most considered and Obeyed. The reasons
are innumerable. In the first place there
| is the well-known scientific fact that ma
ture sends her regular rainfalls where the
| trees are most numerous There is an at
traction i'll the vegetable kingdom which
draws unto it all of the businesses of the
| sky, as well as of the earth. In the added
and regular rainfall every citizen of the ter
ritory would be greatly repaid for the eff
| forts made in the cultivation of trees. For
| fuel the paintings of this generation will
not be available; but they will be for the
next generation. But for shelter from the
WINDS OF WINTER.
| for protection against billiards. and cyclones.
| the trees are of incalculable value. The
commissioner of agriculture says that he
has made no especial preparation for de-
mands from the Northwest, yet he can
probably supply all who may make calls
upon him within q reasonable time. If the
matter be agitated in congress by the dele
gate from Dakota, or if he simply take
pains to bring the attention of the depart
ment personally TO the matter. preparations
for the future might be made The people
| should take great interest in the matter
themselves and urge the delegate and the
congressional friends they may have to in
duce the agricultural department to make
ready for enormous shipments next spring.
Congress might appropriate a sum for
this purpose for the general
welfare'' as authorized by the
constitution. Commissioner Sparks, of the
general land office. is entitled to special
praise from all Of the people of the North
west for his determined efforts to have the
timber culture laws enforced vigorously and
vigorously. No matter if he has made mis-
takes on other subjects. he has made nc
mistake on this one. lie is the first and
only commissioner who has enforced these
laws and instructed his agents to make nc
| exceptions under any circumstances in theil
prosecutions under the laws. One of his
best agents was Beyans, of the WatertOwl
district. He has gone to Arizona now, and
is enforcing the laws there in Il manner
which eXciteS great hostility; but he Is do
ing the people and the country good sery.
| ice anyway